Police raid homes of riot suspects

A Hugo Boss bag is seen as stolen goods are recovered by Metropolitan Police officers

England's smash-and-grabbers are getting a dose of their own medicine.

Suspects wanted over violence were being raided throughout the day as the police fightback began.

Designer clothes worth thousands of pounds were recovered from one flat alone as the first of hundreds of anticipated raids kicked off.

At one operation briefing, a Scotland Yard police chief ordered officers to keep the horror sustained by Britons in mind as they hit back in a firm but "legally robust" manner.

Intelligence-led swoops by 50 officers followed violent scenes in Sloane Square on Monday, where up to a million pounds-worth of damage was caused.

A Hugo Boss shop was the target of about 40 looters who emptied the store of its contents on Tuesday. In response, four arrests have been made as suspects were dragged from their homes during searches in Pimlico, central London.

The Scotland Yard officer leading raids at the Churchill Gardens Estate said he was proud of his officers' quick response.

Chief Superintendent Simon Ovens, who has been home for just three hours since the violence escalated, added: "The level of violence on Monday was as bad as I have seen. The public have been supporting us all the way and I am proud of the response by our officers."

One 18-year-old man screamed at officers as he was bundled into a police van in handcuffs after more than £1,000-worth of clothing was found in his flat.

Brand new Nike Air Jordan trainers, along with Hugo Boss jackets, jeans, belts and bags were taken away from his flat.